Earls to start at full-back for Munster

Keith Earls will start at full-back for Munster in Sunday's encounter with Newport-Gwent Dragons at a sold-out Musgrave Park.

Barry Murphy will assist Lifeimi Mafi in the centre in the absence of Rua Tipoki. Paul Warwick starts at 10, with Ronan O'Gara waiting in the wings.

It is a case of one captain for another in the second row as Mick O'Driscoll replaces Paul O'Connell.

Frank Sheahan replaces Jerry Flannery in a hooking position (Flannery is on the bench) and Tony Buckley comes in for Marcus Horan in the front row.

MUNSTER (v The Dragons): K Earls; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll (capt); D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, D Wallace.

Replacements: M Horan, J Flannery, P O'Connell, J Melck, P Stringer, R O'Gara, Denis Hurley.